Dental articulator.



Patented Ian. I, l90l. J W BRYAN DENTAL ABTICULATOR.

\Apphcatmn filed May 12, 1900 (No Model ifgzsscs W m: mama mas col wmoumu, wAsniucn-ou. n. c

llivrrnn rates ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. BRYAN, OF RUSSELLVILLE, KENTUCKY.

DENTAL ARTICULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,830, dated J anuary 1, 1 01.

Application filed May 12, 1900. Serial No. 16,479. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. BRYAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Russellville, in the county of Logan and State of Ken tucky, have invented a new and useful Dental Articulator, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to dental articulators; and the object of the same is to provide simple and effective means for minimizing the time necessary in the manipulation of such devices preparatory to operations upon the mold, and in this instance particularly to supply attachments for the jaws of the articulator set forth in my Patent No. 643,038, granted February 6, 1900, or for any other similar instrument to facilitate application or removal of the molds without pursuing the usual injurious methods.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and -claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dental articulator, showing the improved attachments applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the articulator embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one set of the attachments.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 10 designates the lower jaw of the articulator, the horizontal projection of which is similar to that of the human jaw and has at its rear end two upwardly-extending arms 11 and 12, the terminals of the latter projecting rearwardly and provided with perforations 13 and 14.. The apertured cars 15 of a hinge-plate 16 coincide with the apertured terminals of the said arms and are movably connected to the latter by a hinge-rod 17, and by means of a set-screw 18 the slotted shank 19 of an upper jaw 20 is secured to the said hinge-plate.

have a bearing-bar 21 connecting the same below the plane of the hinge-plate to receive an adjusting-screw 22, which is supplied with a jam-washer 23, the upper end of said screw being adapted to contact with the said hingeplate to vary the adjustment of the two jaws The arms 11 and 12 also to obtain the proper articulation, as will be readily understood. 7

The improvement resides in the provision of thin metal holding-plates 24 and 25, which embrace the jaws 10 and 20, the said plates being arranged in pairs and having front centrally-located connecting extensions 26,forming parts of or attached to cores 27. The jaws 10 and 20-are slotted longitudinally to receive the fastening-screws 28 for the plates, and each plate opposite that through which the screws are inserted is provided with bosses 29 to give firm bearing to the shanks of the said screws and means for obtaining a positive secnrement of the said plates to the jaws. The inner or rear ends of the cores abut against the outer central edge portions of the jaws when the plates are applied, and each inner plate has a rear holding-flange 30, inclined forward, so as to produce a close gripping action on the molds and prevent the latter from loosening when disposed in the articulator. Over the upper extension 26 of the upper plate 24 and depending below the lower similar extension of the plate 24 are guide-ears 31, which have inturned ends 32 to form guides for the horizontal members 33 of the front clamps 34. The said clamps have inwardlyprojecting tongues 35, which are inclined backward and bear against the outer central portions of the molds and are held in their adjusted positions by set-screws 36, supplied with milled heads 37. The said screws 36 freely pass through the tongues and have adjustable engagement with the cores 27 in order that the said tongues may be easily adjusted and obtain a firm bearing of the said tongues against the outer portions of the molds. The tongues stand diametrically opposite the holdingfianges 30, and the body portions of the molds are thus tightly secured during the articulating operation without injury thereto and readily separable from plates and jaws when desired without undue strain, hammering action, or other disadvantageous methods now commonly employed. The inner opposing plates 24 and 25 of each pair of plates present smooth flat surfaces to receive the outer portions of the molds and to hold the latter in truly horizontal planes for accuracy in verification and alinement in the articulation of the mold-teeth, and it will also be observed that the upper jaw 20 can be adjusted longitudinally to compensate for irregularities in the teeth formation and disposition.

The improved attachments can be readily applied to articulators now in use by simple changes in the structure of the same, and the time saved and the conveniences resulting from the use of the improvement will be far in excess of and overbalance its small cost.

The simplified and preferred form of the improvement has been shown and described; but it will be understood that changes in the form, size, proportions, and minor details may be resorted to without in the least departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with the upper and lower jaws of a dental articulator, of holding-plates applied to and completely em bracing the-upper and lower side of each jawand provided with means for engaging molds and separably securing them to the jaws. v

2. The combination with the jaws of a dental articulator, of a pair of holding-plates completely embracing the upper and lower side of each jaw and fastened to the latter, the inner plates having rear flanges, and adjust- 3. The combination with the jaws of a dental articulator, of pairs of holding-plates ap,-

plied and secured to and completely embracing the upper and lower side of each of the said jaws, the inner plate of each pair having a rear flange and the outer central portions of same provided with extensions having guides, and clamps movably mounted in said guides and provided with inwardly-prd jecting tongues diametrically opposite the flanges on the inner plates.

at. The combination with the jaws of a den.- tal articulator, of holding-plates applied and fastened to and completely embracing the upper and lower side of each of the jaws and provided with outer and inner diametricallyopposed mold-engaging devices, and the in Z nersu rfaces of the inner plates formed smooth and flat. 7 In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. 7

JAMES W. BRYAN. i/Vitnessesz E. B. DRAKE, WM. I. MORTON. 

